logo
A Web3 First: China Leverages Cross-Border AI Data For Industrial Use

A Web3 First: China Leverages Cross-Border AI Data For Industrial Use

Forbes25-03-2025

In a world-first, China's Shenzhen Data Exchange (SDEx) facilitates a deal that brings decentralized, community-sourced AI data into real industrial applications through Web3 infrastructure. SDEx is the largest provider of national-level data trading platforms for data marketization and cross-border circulation in China's digital economy. The platform provides a comprehensive suite of services, including compliance protection, circulation support, supply and demand connection, and ecological development, enabling businesses and consumers to trade data efficiently.
In my previous articles, I emphasized that data will inevitably become the next key battleground frontier in AI's global race. This article delves into how SDEx has taken a significant leap forward in cross-border data collection through a commercially viable model powered by Decentralized AI (DeAI).
First, let's reiterate the looming bottleneck facing the global AI industry: data scarcity. As industries and companies increasingly rely on AI models for innovation, the demand for high-quality training data will skyrocket. This challenge cuts across sectors:
The fundamental question then becomes: where can we source this immense volume of data at scale? Traditional centralized data collection methods encounter significant limitations:
While the chipset race dominates headlines, a quieter but equally crucial data war is underway. Recently, the SDEx facilitated a commercial deal between Shenzhen Intellifusion Technologies, a publicly listed Chinese AI company, and OORT, a decentralized AI solution provider.
Intellifusion has been developing industry-specific AI solutions to enhance its smart factory capabilities. Specifically, they needed industrial datasets, including images of professional respiratory masks and confined-space ventilation ducts, among other things. OORT enabled the collection of this data through its product solution, OORT DataHub. It achieved this by distributing data collection tasks to its global community, spanning over 130 countries. Participants could contribute their data and earn crypto incentives, a feat unattainable through traditional banking or Web2 platforms. This deal marks the realization of the first commercially viable model for truly decentralized, global data collection, a significant advancement in cross-border data services.
While established platforms like Amazon's AWS Data Exchange (ADX) exist, they possess limitations that hinder the next phase of AI's global advancement:
Reflecting this context, the DeAI space has recently made remarkable strides toward building a more open AI future amidst growing concerns over the centralized model's dominance by a few major players. Notably, two DeAI alliances emerged on the same day.
First, HumanAIx, founded by 13 Web3 entities, including OORT, YGG, NEO, and io.net, introduced an open protocol designed to connect partners seamlessly. Each participant contributes essential components—validation, storage, computing, and data—to establish a permissionless, scalable, and verifiable decentralized AI infrastructure. Its three-layer architecture—interface, protocol (integrating compute, storage, and data), and security—leverages industry expertise to foster an open environment for the future of DeAI.
Simultaneously, another coalition of Web3 leaders, including NEAR, Aethir, and Coinbase, formed the Open Agents Alliance (OAA), which aims to ensure secure, open-source, economical, and fair AI access.
Despite crypto's recent bearish turn and the AI sector's vulnerability to hype and inflated narratives, it's promising to see serious industry players working on potentially profound and sustainable solutions. Only projects with viable business models will endure. SDEx has taken a significant step by embracing decentralized data collection, a move that signals a broader shift with global implications. This development suggests an important shift is underway, prompting industry participants to reconsider how they gather, verify, and manage data for AI development.
Disclosure: I am the founder and CEO of OORT.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

US and China ‘back to square one' after two days of trade talks
US and China ‘back to square one' after two days of trade talks

Yahoo

time18 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

US and China ‘back to square one' after two days of trade talks

Talks between the US and China are 'back to square one' after two days of trade negotiations in London failed to secure a major deal. Howard Lutnick, Donald Trump's commerce secretary, said the two sides had agreed on a 'framework' to put their trading relations back on track and repair the truce initially agreed in Geneva last month. There was little market reaction to the announcement at Lancaster House shortly after midnight, with the dollar strengthening a little and stock markets opening marginally higher. The two sides have until Aug 10 to negotiate a more comprehensive agreement to ease trade tensions, or US tariffs on China will snap back from about 30pc to 145pc, with China's levies on America increasing from 10pc to 125pc. Josh Lipsky, of the Atlantic Council's GeoEconomics Center in Washington, said: 'They are back to square one but that's much better than square zero.' Jim Reid, a Deutsche Bank analyst, added: 'While the mood music has stayed positive, investors may be wary of the pattern that emerged during the previous US-China trade talks in 2018-19, when apparently constructive in-person meetings seemed to take a step back as the negotiating teams returned to their capitals. 'So there's perhaps a little disappointment this morning that we haven't yet got a bigger announcement, even though there's time to hear the full conclusions of the meeting.' Senior officials from Washington and Beijing had gathered in London after accusations from both sides that they had violated the terms of the deal made in Switzerland. Mr Trump and Xi Jinping held a call last week that Mr Lutnick said 'gave the fundamental foundation on which we were able to reach agreement'. Mr Lutnick said: 'We have reached a framework to implement the Geneva consensus and the call between the two presidents. 'The idea is we're going to go back and speak to President Trump and make sure he approves it. 'They're going to go back and speak to President Xi and make sure he approves it, and if that is approved, we will then implement the framework.' In a separate briefing, Li Chenggang, China's vice commerce minister, said a trade framework had been reached in principle that would be taken back to US and Chinese leaders. Mr Lutnick said China's restrictions on exports of rare earth minerals and magnets to the US would be resolved as a 'fundamental' part of the framework agreement. He also said the agreement would remove some of the recent US export restrictions, but did not provide details. Kathleen Brooks, the research director at XTB, a trading platform, said: 'Overall, the US-China trade agreement is taking its time, and it could test the market's patience.' Meanwhile, the European Union reportedly believes it could extend its trade negotiations with the US beyond the initial deadline next month. The EU thinks there could be scope for further talks if it agrees a deal in principle by July 9, which is considered its best-case scenario, according to Bloomberg. The Trump administration is scheduled to enforce 50pc tariffs on EU goods beyond that date unless a deal is reached. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.

Donald Trump confirms US-China deal done, says rare earth deal and 55% tariffs finalised
Donald Trump confirms US-China deal done, says rare earth deal and 55% tariffs finalised

Business Upturn

time20 minutes ago

  • Business Upturn

Donald Trump confirms US-China deal done, says rare earth deal and 55% tariffs finalised

Donald Trump touts 55% tariffs and rare earth supply in pending China deal By News Desk Published on June 11, 2025, 17:56 IST Last updated June 11, 2025, 17:57 IST Former U.S. President Donald J. Trump on Tuesday announced via social media that a new deal with China has been reached, pending final approval from both himself and Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to Trump, the agreement includes upfront Chinese supply of 'full magnets' and 'any necessary rare earths' to the U.S. In return, the U.S. will uphold previously agreed terms, which Trump said include allowing Chinese students to continue studying at American colleges and universities — a relationship he described as 'always been good with me!' Trump emphasized that under the new deal, the U.S. will receive a combined total of 55% in tariffs, while China will get 10%. 'Relationship is excellent!' Trump declared in the post, adding thanks for attention to the matter. The post, shared on June 11, 2025, at 8:04 AM, comes amid ongoing geopolitical and trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. No official confirmation has yet been released by Chinese authorities or the U.S. State Department. News desk at

Watch live: Bessent testifies before House on Treasury priorities
Watch live: Bessent testifies before House on Treasury priorities

The Hill

time23 minutes ago

  • The Hill

Watch live: Bessent testifies before House on Treasury priorities

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will testify before the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday morning amid trade negotiations following President Trump's sweeping tariffs. The hearing comes after Trump announced early Wednesday that the U.S. and China have reached an agreement that would lower tariffs on U.S. goods to 10 percent and level tariffs of 55 percent on Chinese goods. Under the pending deal, China would also supply full magnets and 'necessary' rare earth minerals 'up front.' In exchange, the U.S. will open universities and colleges up to the nation's international students, according to his post on Truth Social. It also follows a federal appeals court ruling Tuesday that allows the Trump administration's tariffs to remain in effect for now, extending a previous pause after a separate court ruled the import taxes were illegal. The Treasury chief will also testify before the Senate later Wednesday. The House event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. EDT. Watch the live video above.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store